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Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting CD19 has significantly improved outcomes in the treatment of refractory or relapsed (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Several risk factors including CAR-T cell-related toxicities and their treatments often lead to infectious complications (ICs); however, the pattern and timeline is not well established. We evaluated ICs in 48 patients with R/R B-cell NHL following CAR-T cell therapy at our institution. Overall, 15 patients experienced 22 infection events. Eight infections (4 bacterial, 3 viral and 1 fungal) occurred within the first 30 days and 14 infections (7 bacterial, 6 viral, 1 fungal) between days 31 to 180 following CAR-T infusion. Most infections were mild-to-moderate and fifteen infections involved the respiratory tract. Two patients developed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection and one patient a cytomegalovirus reactivation after CAR-T infusion. Two patients developed IFIs: one case each of fatal disseminated candidiasis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis at day 16 and 77, respectively. Patients with more than 4 prior antitumor regimens and patient's ≥ 65 years had a higher infection rate. Infections in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL are common after CAR-T despite the use of infection prophylaxis. Age ≥ 65 years and having > 4 prior antitumor treatments were identified as risk factors for infection. Fungal infections carried significant impact in morbidity and mortality, suggesting a role for increase fungal surveillance and/or anti-mold prophylaxis following high-dose steroids and tocilizumab. Four of ten patients developed an antibody response following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary plant metabolites with a specific function are a diverse group of molecules responsible for adapting the plant to its environment. Within the adaptation of plants is the defense against herbivores and pathogens. Among the specialized metabolites is the group of alkaloids, encompassing the capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids are molecules found in the fruits of the Capsicum genus plants that are responsible for their spicy taste. The main capsaicinoid is capsaicin. Capsaicin has a broad activity spectrum, including antibacterial and antifungal effects. The extraction of specific capsaicinoids from the fruits of Capsicum is complicated, expensive, and of low yield, due to the similarity in the structures. Thus, it is more convenient to synthesize their compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of a synthetic capsaicinoid oleoresin (CO, containing 70% nonivamide and 30% dihydrocapsaicin) against single isolates of Fusarium oxysporum Sch and Clavibacter michiganensis Davis (in vitro and in vivo), as well as against Phytophthora capsici Leon. and Pseudomonas syringae Van Hall (in vitro), the former two both in vitro and in vivo, the last two only in vitro. Inhibition of growth of these pathogens ranging from 25.2 to 94.8% was obtained in in vitro assays. In vitro tests were carried out in liquid and solid growth inhibition medium assays for Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora capsici, Clavibacter michiganensis and Pseudomonas syringae. In vivo tests used plants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) for Clavibacter michiganensis and Fusarium oxysporum. Post-harvest tests were carried out on tomato fruits with natural infections. In vivo tests showed inhibitions from 80.6 to 97.2% and 87.7% in soil for Fusarium oxysporum and in plant for Clavibacter michiganensis, respectively, at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.10% of CO. A significant decrease in damage index was found in plants inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum and Clavibacter michiganensis and treated with CO at 0.05 and 0.10%. Post-harvest tests displayed a significant difference for weight loss and fruit damage due to rotting in the treatment CO 0.05% and 0.20% in comparison to control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine enteric methane emissions using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique and comparing with The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology in lactating cows (LC) and dry cows (DC) in the Peruvian highlands. Enteric methane (CH4) emissions were measured on 5 LC and 6 DC Brown Swiss in a grazing system without concentrate. Forages samples were collected and analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber. Milk samples were collected and analyzed for fat, crude protein, and lactose to estimate energy-corrected milk. Animal intakes were measured using the external marker titanium dioxide (production of feces) and crude protein in feces (organic digestibility of the feed) and estimated by using performance data. The enteric methane emissions of LC were higher than methane emissions of DC (325 and 266 g CH4/cow/day for LC and DC, respectively (P < 0.001)). Methane emissions were 358.5 g CH4/day by SF6 technique and 291.6 g CH4/day by IPCC methodology for LC and 337.4 g CH4/day by SF6 technique and 195.8 g CH4/day by IPCC methodology for DC. Methane yields measured by SF6 were higher than methane yields estimated by IPCC methodology (29 g CH4/kg DM and 22 g CH4/kg DM using SF6 technique and IPCC methodology, respectively (P < 0.001)). Methane yields were differently for all expressions by physiological stage and method. The methane conversion factor (Ym) was 9.7% for LC and 9.6% for DC. Methane intensities were similar by method (P > 0.05). It was concluded that IPCC’s methodology underestimate the CH4 emissions of dairy systems in the Peruvian Andes; therefore, in order to obtain precise Ym, direct measurements of enteric CH4 in the different regions of Peruvian highlands are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurologic impairment persisting months after acute severe SARS-CoV-2 infection has been described because of several pathogenic mechanisms, including persistent systemic inflammation. The objective of this study is to analyze the selective involvement of the different cognitive domains and the existence of related biomarkers. Cross-sectional multicentric study of patients who survived severe infection with SARS-CoV-2 consecutively recruited between 90 and 120 days after hospital discharge. All patients underwent an exhaustive study of cognitive functions as well as plasma determination of pro-inflammatory, neurotrophic factors and light-chain neurofilaments. A principal component analysis extracted the main independent characteristics of the syndrome. 152 patients were recruited. The results of our study preferential involvement of episodic and working memory, executive functions, and attention and relatively less affectation of other cortical functions. In addition, anxiety and depression pictures are constant in our cohort. Several plasma chemokines concentrations were elevated compared with both, a non-SARS-Cov2 infected cohort of neurological outpatients or a control healthy general population. Severe Covid-19 patients can develop an amnesic and dysexecutive syndrome with neuropsychiatric manifestations. We do not know if the deficits detected can persist in the long term and if this can trigger or accelerate the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]